Planning for a trip to Europe needs adequate time. You need to research about the basic things like which countries require a visa and what places can you visit. In doing this, you may encounter the term “Schengen” at some point. What is Schengen exactly, and why would you need a Schengen visa to visit some places in Europe?
This article would feature the information needed in applying for a Schengen visa and everything that you should know to navigate this confusing zone.
What is Schengen Visa and When Do You Need It?
A Schengen visa is also known as a Europe visa. It permits qualified people to travel freely within the Schengen Area. Travelers who applied for Schengen visa and want to visit Europe will not experience hassle in internal border checks while traveling through the 26 countries that are part of the Schengen area.
However, a Schengen visa will not work for those who are crossing through external borders. These are borders situated between Schengen and non-Schengen states.
The individuals that are unrestricted from traveling even without a Schengen visa are:
- Citizens from Schengen countries
- Those with a residence permit given by a Schengen country
- EEA/EU citizens
- Non-EU persons from qualified countries who do not need to acquire a Schengen visa when they travel for up to 90 days.
- Non-EU persons with a legal Schengen visa
A Couple of Things to Keep in Mind:
- Although you can travel to Europe without a visa, you would need a valid passport to visit any Schengen-participating country.
- If you’re residing in a country outside Europe, you would need to have stamps on your passport in every country that you’re entering. If you do not obtain stamps while you’re leaving the Schengen area, you might need to prove that you’ve been in Europe for quite some time.
Who needs a Schengen Visa?
Do you need a Schengen visa? That is the question that you need to ask yourself to make sure that your travel is hassle-free. Also, asking yourself this question would determine if you can freely travel throughout the Schengen area. The requirement of a Schengen visa depends on your citizenship or the place where you reside.
You need to check the list of countries that requires a Schengen visa before traveling. These are the requirements needed when traveling to the Schengen area:
- A valid passport
- A valid Schengen visa
- Medical insurance for traveling that is compliant to the condition of a Schengen visa insurance
- Documents that back up your purpose in traveling and the duration of your Schengen country-stay
- Have a ticket for departing the Schengen area or the money on your bank to buy one
Conclusion
As is mentioned above, traveling to Europe needs adequate time to plan. If you want to travel without hassle, it is best to apply for a Schengen visa. Who knows, you might have a sudden change of plans when someone recommends a beautiful place to visit in Europe.
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